Looking for employment; writing about Prince George's County, Maryland. Politics, Places and People

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An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. "A fight is going on inside me," he said to the boy.

"It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil—he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego." He continued, "The other is good—he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. The same fight is going on inside you—and inside every other person, too."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, "Which wolf will win?"

Thursday, August 30, 2012

I might add that Prince George's County has quietly and without any protest lost over 250 senior science researchers from USDA ARS BARC over the last 25 years - positions moved to benefit other states - and nothing much if anything was said, so this should come as no surprise.

We can only hope that our political elite will stop making bets from time to time and reassess their strategy of benign neglect in the pursuit of short terms gains for a few.

What exactly do we make in Prince George's County? We once discovered insect repellent, and created the modern turkey, helped the cattle and dairy industry reduce the cost of producing new generations of animals, and were a leader in strawberry production techniques. What do we make now? and more importantly, iuf yuou can name something, how long will it remain produced in Prince George's County?

We need to be known for more than the county that produces parking lots surrounding empty malls. We need to support and build a commercial base that can sup[port the retail we crave not the tired strip malls of yesterday.

That we can do this, if we stopped bickering with each other, stopped listening to the self interested platitudes of our self appointed political elite, and worked to bring 21st century businesses such as, for an example, agrobiotech to our great county. The world will have to eat - all seven billion plus - and Prince George's County should be the one stop home of food, feed, fiber, forage, fuel, flowers and forest ( and maybe even fish) production answers for that hungry world.

It’s ‘Big Boy’ vs. ‘Mortgage Lifter,’ hybrid vs. heirloom, the tomato wars have just begun. Everyone is sure that their tomato pick is the tastiest. Join Washington Gardener Magazine at the FreshFarm Market in downtown Silver Spring, MD, on Saturday, August 25 from 10am-12noon for a Tomato Tasting. Best of all, this event is FREE!

Farmers at the market will contribute their locally grown selections — from super-sweet ‘Sungold’ to not-so-pretty ‘Cherokee Purple’ — and we’ll explore which tomatoes make the short list of favorites. We’ll have tomato gardening tips, tomato recipes, tomato activities for kids, and much more. All to celebrate one of summer’s greatest indulgences — the juicy fresh tomato.

Tip: Your tomato taste voting ballot is also your entry into our prize drawing for a basket full of gardening goodies. The drawing is at 12noon, so be sure to fully fill out your ballot by 11:45am and then stick around for the prize announcement as you must be present to win.

Tuesday, August 07, 2012

The business model of the gaming and gambling industry is to
make a profit by taking as much money, credit and assets from their customers
and patrons as quickly and often as possible while spending as little as
possible on operation expenses including various taxes.

When tied
into a entertainment destination site, gaming and gambling become part of a solid
marketing plan that provides an attraction complete with additional reasons to choose National Harbor in
Prince George's County for meetings, conventions, business and recreation.

It does seem that we have been here before, though.

An ACT to prevent excessive gaming Lib No a fol 762

WHEREAS it hath been represented to this general assembly
that certain persons as well citizens of this as of other states and foreigners
carry about with them from one public place another in this state certain
gambling machines or inventions calculated to deceive and defraud innocent and
unguarded to the prejudice of society and the corruption of morals; and this
assembly being desirous to put a stop to such pernicious and baneful effects,

therefore,

11 ENACTED by the General Assembly of Maryland That after
the passage of this act no E. O. A. B. C. L. S. D., or faro table or other device
except billiard tables for the purpose of gaming or money shall be set up kept
or maintained in any dwelling house out house or place occupied by any tavern
keeper retailer of wine spirituous liquors heer or cider whether such person
have a license or not on pain of forfeiting every such EOABCLSD table or other
device and of forfeiting moreover for every offence the sum of fifty pounds
current money upon convietion thereof by indictment or confession in the county
court of the county wherein the offence shall committed. November 1797

The Laws of Maryland: 1785-1799. Volume 2 of The Laws of Maryland: To which are Prefixed the Original Charter, with an English Translation, the Bill of Rights and Constitution of the State, as Originally Adopted by the Convention, with the Several Alterations by Acts of Assembly, the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution of the General Government, and the Amendments Made Thereto, with an Index to the Laws, the Bill of Rights, and the Constitution, William Kilty. 1800

Friday, August 03, 2012

What
County and which State, exactly, is National Harbor in? A casual observer would
have no idea that the 'gem' of Prince George's is actually in Prince George's
County. A quick Google search turns up the following dismal result:three times the number of Google hits for 'National Harbor Old Town' (3,760,000
results) than for 'National Harbor
Prince George's' (1,650,000 results). Even Fodor's Travel web site for
Prince George's County focuses on Virginia.

'The National
Harbor sprawls across 300 acres of the previously abandoned banks of the
Potomac River across from Old Town Alexandria. Although it is still in
development and construction is to be expected, the location already offers
world-class accommodations, dining, and water taxi tours to other hot spots on
the Potomac."[1]

The first few entries from a Google
search today bring up the following dearth of any mention of Prince George's
County?

·"In the
Washington, D.C. area, Wyndham Vacation Resorts at National Harbor is a top
vacation destination offering everything you need for an unforgettable family
gateway."[2]

·"Gaylord National is the crown jewel of the newly
developed National Harbor, a dynamic waterfront community in the Washington
D.C. area / National Harbor, MD. A world-class hotel and convention center
covering 41.7 acres, Gaylord National overlooks the monuments and skyline of
our nation's capital. Ideally situated along the scenic shoreline of the
historic Potomac River, Gaylord National is the largest combined hotel and
convention center on the Eastern Seaboard."[3]

·"National Harbor combines urban energy and convenience with
the timeless appeal of waterfront living. Directly across the Potomac from Old
Town Alexandria, National Harbor residents enjoy spectacular river views,
marina privileges, and concierge services, as well as a walkable world of
restaurants, clubs, shopping, entertainment, offices, and hotels, crowned by
the dazzling Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center."[4]

·"More than 70 enticing shops and restaurants, right on the
river. Views of downtown D.C. and Old Town Alexandria. A new perspective on
national history. These are all qualities that encourage an overnight stay—and
National Harbor is more than happy to oblige. Six on-site hotels offer a range
of accommodations and rates—each within easy walking distance of our signature
waterfront wonders."[5]

Is Prince George's County really so
dreadful a place that our best and brightest economic development project disdains
to mention us at all? The rebranding of location smacks of the University of
Maryland, College Park, which continues to proudly dream of being in Montgomery
County or, in its absence of action, any county but Prince George's.

The really galling thing is the
focus on the Historical attraction of old town Alexandria. Old town has history
and retail in a small compact area - a place for visitors to spend their money
not in Prince George's County. Prince George's County, however, has history to spare and the capacity
to get tourist there. Erich Wagner of
the Gazette reports that "Orlando Perry, who runs historic tours in
northern and central Prince George’s and is involved in the effort to bring a
Potomac River heritage trail to bear, said that given the proposed trail’s
proximity to National Harbor, the project could potentially spur “hundreds of
thousands of dollars” in economic development, via tour companies, bus rentals
as well as food and shopping. “National Harbor’s there, but there’s a lot of
money that’s not being spent in Prince George’s, but is being taken across the
river [into Washington, D.C.], Perry said. “And if we get enough exposure for
these historic sites, Park and Planning might be able to get grants to redo
[and preserve] the properties they own." ewagner@gazette.net'[6]

And if that is not enough for
National Harbor marketing folks, Prince George's County is the home to the following
African American Historic Sites Statistics: 61 Historic Sites, 34 Historic
Resources, 71 Documented Properties, 19 Historic Communities, 6 National
Register Properties, and 2 National Register Districts. Is there some problem
with taking advantage of this depth of history that I don't see?